Should Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs be winning all these awards?
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
(An article by Hugo Saye.)
Ryan Giggs is indisputably one of the greatest players in the history of the Premier League. His record of 11 League titles, four FA Cups and two European Cups is unrivalled, and he was named in the PFA’s Team of the Century in 2007. Indeed, in the red half of Manchester his name has even become its own adjective whereby, like the player himself, the very best things can be described as “Giggs.” Perhaps most impressive of all is that he is the rarest of all beings: a Manchester United player who receives not abuse but admiration from rival fans. A record breaking player on the pitch and a gentleman off it.
However, this year we seem to have seen achievement bow to sentiment in the handing out of the PFA Player of the Year and now BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. I don’t think there is anyone who would argue that Giggs’ remarkable career warrants some form of recognition, but these presentations have been the wrong kind. The purpose of both awards is to recognise those who have had an exceptional year, not necessarily an exceptional career.
Although it was extensively discussed at the time, it’s worth considering the PFA award again. While Manchester United picked up their third consecutive league title this year, Giggs himself started just 12 games in that triumph, with another 16 substitute appearances. The fact that he contributed just two goals over the campaign further suggests that his influence on United’s success, while important, was relatively modest. Of course there is far more to good football than simply good statistics, but it is hard to argue that Giggs was the most significant player even within his own team when confronted with those numbers, let alone the entire league.
His team mate Nemanja Vidic had a terrific season and looked certain to receive the honour until Fernando Torres cast that into doubt by humiliating the Serb throughout that astonishing 4-1 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford. Despite that game, few would say that he was less crucial to United’s title win than Giggs, and the same could be said for fellow United players Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Edwin van der Sar.
Elsewhere, Steven Gerrard was superb all season, dragging what now appears a fairly ordinary Liverpool side to the brink of their first league title in nearly two decades. Alongside him at Anfield, the two Spaniards Torres and Xabi Alonso were also tremendous, with one’s finishing as inspirational as the other’s passing. Nicolas Anelka revelled in the support of then-Chelsea manager Luis Scolari and picked up the Golden Boot with 19 league goals, while Ashley Young and Steven Ireland both performed above expectations but were really battling it out for the Young Player award. Certainly then that Giggs was decreed the best player in the Premier League last season was strange, but surely not as strange as his BBC award on Sunday night.
The Sports Personality of the Year award is voted by the public so this is no criticism of the BBC, just as I intended no criticism of the PFA as an organisation, but has Giggs really had a better sporting year than Jenson Button, Jessica Ennis or David Haye? While Giggs played a supporting role in his team’s domestic achievements, those three have all become World Champions in their respective fields, as have Beth Tweddle, Phillips Idowu and Tom Daley, while Andrew Strauss captained Enlgand to the Ashes and Mark Cavendish and Andy Murray have scaled heights previously unknown to British athletes on the world stage.
Giggs himself appeared as surprised as anyone at his winning of the award, a further compliment as to the modesty of his character, because he was most likely aware that it is very difficult to argue that his year really holds comparison with those of his fellow candidates. Of course, this is the year he won a record 11th league title but that is testament to his career and his team mates more than his personal contributions to 2009.
Undoubtedly Giggs deserves recognition, but this would be far more appropriate in the form of a career achievement award when the time comes for him to hang up his boots. The doe-eyed voting for this year’s awards has seen more deserving candidates miss out on the praise they have earned, and perhaps in future we should vote with a little more perspective to ensure that it is the best man who wins, not the most decorated veteran.
9 Responses to “Should Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs be winning all these awards?”
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December 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
There is no doubt that Giggs has had a great career, i dont like admiting this as i am a Chelsea fan, but when you have Britons becoming world champions, winning Ashes and British world number 2’s in tennis he doesnt deserve it. Not forgetting that it’s sports personality of the YEAR and player of the YEAR, not the decade. With just 2/3 goals all of 2009 and just a handful of starts, its difficault, if not impossible to justify why he should win the two awards.
December 16th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
I understand the point made in the post, but how can you then argue that Jenson Button - who was after all the one who’d won it if not Giggs - would have deserved it?
A mediocre F1 driver that only won the World Championship because his car was twice as fast as anybody else’s in the beginning of the season. After the others were able to catch up in technology, Button didn’t win anything, but just hanged into the title. Thing that he has himself admitted.
Matters of opinion of course, but Giggs definitely deserves it if anybody.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Gerrard? I think we all know the reason why Gerrard didn’t win anything after last season.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
it’s a public vote and is sports PERSONALITY not sports achievement. Yeah it is sentimental, but what does that matter. The vote is for someone who has captured the imagination of the viewing public. Button was driving a car that as you say Mkl was twice as fast as anyone else. whoopee… Giggs has been outstanding. Doing what he does at his age is a remarkable achievement and i for one say he fully deserves it. Andy Murray is hated in England simple as that!
December 17th, 2009 at 3:37 am
Giggs used one of da best dribblers in da world, and now he has da greatest influence in da team….
December 17th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Why oh why must this rubbish continue?
For Sports Personality of The Year it was a vote - the british public obviously thought that Giggs was SPOTY regardless of his contribution. Talking about his contribution, you don’t think he contributes to the team when he isn’t playing or scoring goals? Come on, he is a model professional and everybody looks up to him and within the United squad he is a massive influence.
And the Player of the Year award… who chose him? Oh, it was only the other players from the PFA who voted, but what would they know about football and what it takes to be a great player… It doesn’t say “Best Player of the year” or “Most scoring player of the year”, so maybe those footballers have another idea of “Player of the year” than you?
I would have personally chosen Vidic, but I am not going to argue with the decision.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Ooops, I forgot one thing: Steven Gerrard? Are you serious? He was having an average year and the other two Liverpool players you mentioned were having a much better season than him!
December 17th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I agree in part with this post as it does seem an odd decision to give it to someone who hasn’t had the same influence “statistically” as other sportsmen. But as Tom says its PERSONALITY of the year and least we forget that Giggs is also one of great leaders in the United dressing room. Anyone can tell what a tremendous personality he nust have when looking at the title celebrations last year. Every player (even Ronaldo, remember Giggs giving him advice after missing the CL final penalty) looks up to him and over the last three months his performances on the pitch have got better and better. Surely for someone at 36 it says alot about their PERSONALITY to have such an influence on one of the most successful teams of recent times and still be carrying on without any hint of retirement.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Gerrard had an average year? 24 goals and something like 14 assists is an average year? He came runner-up to Giggs in the PFA award and won the FWA player of the year.
Too many biased United fanboys.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Give him lifetime achievement award rather than diminishing yearly awards by giving him awards where there are better performances over a season or year by other athletes.